Malaysian aircraft engineering grad turns to wall art and doodling as a career

'I feel incredibly excited and grateful whenever I get meaningful opportunities to showcase my art,' says Nasuha. Photos: The Star/Yap Chee Hong

During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, aircraft engineering graduate Nasuha Ibrahim struggled to find employment.

Little did he know that his passion for art would eventually become his saving grace, allowing him to earn a living through mural art and doodles while transforming public spaces across the country.

“A friend knew I was looking for a job and he also knew I had a passion for art. He offered me a gig painting a mural at a cafe in Putrajaya during the Movement Control Order (MCO). That was my first real mural.

“I posted photos of the mural on Instagram and surprisingly, my work quickly caught the attention of others. Soon, more commissions followed. From that small start, things snowballed. I began getting hired more and more. And today, I sustain myself fully through mural art and doodling,” says Nasuha, 30, during an interview in Kuala Lumpur, recently.

Art is a powerful tool to tell stories, reflect identity and inspire connection.

Born and raised in Marang, Terengganu, Nasuha – who now lives in Cyberjaya, Selangor – encourages others to pursue their passion, no matter the obstacles.

“If you love art, do it with passion. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice – people want to share information and support you. Success comes from persistence and by constantly honing your craft.”

Creative pursuit

Nasuha credits his mother, a homemaker, as one of his earliest supporters in his artistic journey.

“Ibu always encouraged me to colour and draw, even though it was just a hobby back then,” he says.

As a child, he often submitted his drawings for newspaper contests and brand campaigns. “Ibu would tell me I had won, even when I hadn’t. Later, I realised she’d buy gifts and wrap them up, saying I had won a consolation prize. But her little white lie gave me the confidence I needed to keep trying,” he adds with a smile.

“Because of her continuous encouragement, I believed I could do anything.”

Trained as an aircraft engineer, Nasuha chose art over aviation. Photo: Instagram/Nassuha_

Today, Nasuha earns a ­comfortable income – sometimes bringing in up to five figures a month, from his murals and doodle work.

It was that same spirit that gave Nasuha the courage to pursue his artistic journey during his engineering studies.

He was enrolled in Malaysia Airlines’ aircraft maintenance engineering programme after completing a diploma in aeronautical engineering at Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Shah Alam.

Art was initially a hobby, something he did in between classes and internship hours.

“My coursemates supported me a lot – they liked seeing my drawing and doodle work on paper and encouraged me to keep going. I still have some sketchbooks from back then with my early artwork. During my studies, I also took small commissions, like drawing and doodling on paper and phone cases to earn some pocket money.

“I like doodling as it allows me to express my creativity without limit.

“I started joining art and drawing contests, and after winning a few, I used the prize money to buy an iPad Pro. It helped me draw more often and made it easier for me to create digital designs and illustrations,” says Nasuha, who has won local art competitions organised by brands like Vans, Starbucks, Samsung, Golden Screen Cinemas and Faber-Castell.

Nasuha hopes to keep sharing his artwork widely and inspire others to appreciate art in everyday spaces.

In the last five years, Nasuha has built quite a reputation as one of the country’s most prolific mural artists and doodlers.

He has worked for more than 200 clients, painting murals for cafes, offices and public buildings.

Learning on the job

With no formal training, Nasuha taught himself how to draw and paint murals.

“I just started small, practised a lot and learnt by doing. My first mural was quite small and I figured things out along the way.

“I begin by creating a digital sketch using an app, then transfer a rough outline onto the wall with chalk to get the proportions right. From there, I add layers of colours until the artwork comes to life.”

From cafe walls to cityscapes, Nasuha’s vibrant murals breathe life and colour into everyday spaces. Photo: Instagram/Nassuha_

His past projects include designing doodles for coffee cups, handphone cases and even fried chicken containers for a fast food brand.

“At first, I never imagined that my artwork would receive so much attention. I started drawing just for fun and only took it seriously when I noticed that the sketches I shared on social media were gaining attention.

“What began with drawing on phone cases, paper and coffee cups has now grown into large-scale murals on walls.

‘Creating art every day brings me real satisfaction,’ says Nasuha. Photo: Instagram/Nassuha_“I feel incredibly excited and grateful whenever I get meaningful opportunities to showcase my art,” says Nasuha, whose vibrant murals often celebrate local culture.

One of his proudest works is a 13m x 9.14m mural in Ipoh – his largest piece to date – featuring an Oriental-style portrait of a Chinese woman for a local coffee brand.

Nasuha’s eye-catching murals have gained attention across the country, and one of his most talked-about pieces (which is also his latest) is located just a stone’s throw away from Central Market, at the corner of Jalan Hang Kasturi in Kuala Lumpur.

This patriotic piece features Jalur Gemilang alongside Malaysia’s emblems like the traditional kite wau and the country’s national flower, hibiscus.

While Nasuha’s murals are vibrant, he admits that the job can be challenging.

“One of my biggest hurdles is running out of ideas. When that happens, I go for a walk to clear my mind; by the lake, by the beach, in paddy fields or in a village. These moments help clear my mind and allow inspiration to return, which I then translate into digital illustrations or mural work.

What began as a hobby in between classes is now a thriving career for Nasuha. Photo: Instagram/Nassuha_“Another issue is the weather – especially when I work outdoors. For instance, a mural I did for a telecommunications company took three months to complete because it rained for an entire month. Some parts didn’t dry properly, so I had to redo damaged areas.”

Let’s not forget safety issues when working on scaffolding, which is used when Nasuha has to reach high walls while painting his murals. It can get tricky – and slippery – during rainy season.

Despite the demanding schedule of mural commission – which can take up to 10 days for a single piece since he works alone – he finds joy and fulfilment in his work.

“I’m earning more than I ever thought I would as an engineer, but most importantly, I am happy,” he shares.

“Creating art every day is a unique experience that brings me real satisfaction.”

“My hope is to keep sharing my artwork widely and inspire others to appreciate art in everyday spaces. Art is not just a decoration – it’s a way to tell stories, raise awareness and connect people.”